The 3 Best Home Remedies for Headaches – CBD for Headaches

Home remedies for headaches have been disregarded by the scientific establishment for a long time. However, in recent years, a revisionist movement has appeared in scientific circles, investigating and applying science to home remedies for medical ailments. They have found some are as effective as, if not more than, over the counter drugs, and in many cases are much safer.

The reasons for the dismissal of home remedies is the lack of commercial incentives. Without commercial incentives, there is no funding for researching plants that people can grow inexpensively at home. This is disappointing, but there is good news. In recent years, mounting evidence has pointed to many pain relieving home remedies. These natural medicines can relieve headaches and offer migraine relief. This makes natural remedies useful tools in the arsenal against what is possibly the most common malady known to humans.

Home Remedies for Headaches and Migraines

Ginger: In addition to being delicious, ginger is packed with nutrients that help to keep the body healthy. Even without the headache fighting effects, regular consumption of ginger can only benefit you. A chemical called [6]-gingerol (1-[4′-hydroxy-3′- methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone is found in large quantities in ginger (hence the name) and is thought to have remarkable pharmacological effects, one of which is the prevention and treatments of many types of headaches and even migraine attacks.

So far, the evidence is fairly sparse, but people have been using ginger as a treatment for a variety of conditions, including nausea, arthritis, migraines and more for thousands of years. Ginger appears to work as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nausea supplement. Exactly how it works for headaches is unclear, but it is thought to both prevent nausea and vomiting, as well as the onset of the migraine itself. A small study has found that ginger administered before a migraine was as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen. The appeal of ginger is that it has no side effects other than occasional discomfort and very rarely diarrhea.

The safety profile of ginger for treating migraines has not been established. It is known to be a safe food, but the way that it interacts with other drugs is not known. The use of ginger to treat chronic headaches should be discussed with your doctor.

Massage: One of the most effective home remedies for a headache is a neck and upper back massage. The majority of headaches are caused by stress and tension in the muscles of the head and neck. Gently massaging the muscles and attempt to keep them from tensing up. Check for tension in the jaw, temples, shoulders and neck. You might first need someone to massage you, so you can get the right idea of how to relieve the tension in your body. Once you have learned the right techniques, you can self-administer massages to great effect.

Relaxing, breathing deeply, closing your eyes, and focusing on the muscles should reveal where the tension is. Use the tips of your fingers to gently rub the muscles in a circular manner, trying to push the tension slowly away. As an aside, many people who wear glasses develop tension headaches because their glasses do not fit. The muscles around the ear and face can get tired from trying to keep the glasses on the face, so a quick trip to the opticians can help prevent headaches if you wear glasses.

Cannabidiol: Although cannabis has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal qualities, it is only recently that an extract of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) has been used in isolation for a wide range of conditions. CBD can be an effective tool for treating headaches and some of the causes of headaches. The anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) effects of CBD are relatively well documented, and because it is understood that many or most headaches are caused by stress and tension, by administering CBD, the hope is that it could reduce the base stress level and stop the headaches.

CBD is also able to reduce inflammation. Some headaches are caused by neuropathic pain. CBD has been demonstrated to have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects that can significantly reduce irritation and pain from damaged, inflamed, or overstimulated nerves. It is thought that these effects are because CBD does not bind directly to the receptors that other cannabinoids like THC do. CBD seems to modulate their interactions, changing how the endocannabinoid system works.

Some headaches accompany disorders like depression. Currently being researched, some studies have shown antidepressant effects of cannabidiol and cannabis. One of the (rare) side effects of CBD is getting a headache. Some people report that at high doses, they develop headaches. These generally subside when the user becomes tolerant to the drug or stops using it. Lowering dosage should also address concern.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some people are using CBD for treating their cluster headaches, widely regarded as one of the most painful medical conditions. This utterly debilitating condition is very difficult to treat. The drugs that do work are generally very powerful and can have severe side effects. The hope is that CBD could help reduce these cluster headaches and produce fewer side effects.

Using CBD

CBD can be used in its pure form topically, orally, or with a vaporizer. It does not have a pleasant taste but it is easily masked and included in foods. A combination of ginger and CBD could be very effective, but this has never been studied, so it is up to the users to experiment for themselves. You can also mix your CBD with soothing essential oils, like lavender essential oil or peppermint oil, or coconut oil.

Vaporizing CBD is a relatively safe and very quick way of administering the drug. There are some risks associated with vaping, but with low to moderate use, these risks are much reduced. How CBD interacts with other drugs is not well understood. For this reason, if you decide to use CBD for your headaches, please consult your doctor first. If they know exactly what you are taking, they can spot signs of unwanted interactions and side effects, helping you to get the safest and most effective treatments.